Thinking of something, Hua Zhi added, “Keep the commotion as small as possible. Do not give anyone an opportunity to pin charges on us.”

“Yes.” Chen Qing hesitated a moment, then asked, “Shall I have someone inform the Shizi of the situation in the capital?”

Hua Zhi lowered her gaze. “No need. If things are handled well, he will not linger out there on his own. If they are not handled well, knowing the situation in the capital will only make him anxious — he cannot fly back. There is no point.”

“This subordinate obeys.”

Gu Ye Lin smiled faintly to himself. Only anxious? His heart would likely freeze solid. A young woman of her intelligence could hardly fail to see the intent behind this present situation. She was simply sparing him pain. His apprentice had better fortune than he ever did.

Hua Zhi called for paper and brush to be brought. She needed to think things through more thoroughly. With so many people’s lives at stake, she could not afford a single misstep. Even without any certainty, even if things deviated from what she anticipated, she had to ensure that her side could advance and could also retreat.

With Yan Xi absent and Xiao Liu still young with insufficient influence — what was a disadvantage for him was, in this moment, also an advantage. Precisely because his foundations were weak, even if someone wished to frame him for rebellion, it would not hold up. As long as she cut off that possibility, the other side would find no grounds to act against them.

And the presence of Chaoli remnants within the palace could serve as a reason to purge those surrounding the Emperor. She did not seek to have the five capital garrisons take her side — only to use this pretext to hold them in check, to prevent them from being fooled by the other party. That would be victory enough.

As for the Imperial Guards…

Hua Zhi set down her brush in contemplation. The Imperial Guards’ Commander was Fu Gang. He would certainly be guarding the palace at this moment. Yan Xi had once said that although Fu Gang was not without the characteristic slipperiness of capital families, his character was nonetheless fairly upright. If she could contact him…

No use. Hua Zhi dismissed the idea herself. If the Emperor had fallen unconscious, there might have been room to win him over. But from the current situation, whether the Emperor was in his right mind or not remained unknown — yet he was at least awake. As long as he was awake, Fu Gang would never risk contending for the credit of supporting a new ruler.

Credit for supporting a new ruler?

Hua Zhi suddenly looked up. “Are the Third Prince and Fourth Prince also unable to enter the palace?”

“By all reasoning, that should be the case.” Chen Qing’s brow tightened. “This subordinate will go now to confirm their whereabouts.”

“Be careful not to expose yourself.”

“Yes.”

Chen Qing, whose hair was still not fully dry, was about to leave when he heard the Young Miss say again, “Wait. Look into the Fourth Prince’s movements during this period — how many times he entered the palace and for how long, whether it was within normal range. And not only him — the movements of his trusted aides must also be investigated. If you cannot find out, then inquire. Go at once.”

“Yes.”

“Also — investigate Noble Consort Xu and her maternal family. No need to go far back; start from when Hao Yue became pregnant.”

“Yes.”

Hua Zhi rested her hands on the chair’s armrests and sat back down. She now knew what she had overlooked — the bond that had once existed between Hao Yue and the Fourth Prince.

If her earlier suspicions about Hao Yue were correct, she and the Fourth Prince had once been husband and wife. Then she would have known his preferences and temperament well. If she wished to change her fate, to escape from the Emperor’s side, seducing the Fourth Prince would be the finest move available to her while she was confined within the palace.

Could the Fourth Prince have refused? He would not.

A prince who had plunged eagerly into murky waters at just fourteen years of age — his ambitions were plain for all to see. A scheme that so perfectly killed two birds with one stone — how could he refuse?